Two ministerial statements of crucial importance were made in the House of Commons on Monday. 

The first was a Business Statement usually given on Thursdays to outline the programme in the House for the next week, normally a routine affair. This was brought forward because of the Power-Sharing Agreement between the leaders of the Democratic Unionist party and Sinn Fein, an event of extraordinary significance for Northern Ireland and the UK and it was necessary to introduce emergency legislation immediately to give effect to this agreement. Thus the business of the week had to be changed to allow time for this legislation to be debated. 
It was passed not surprisingly without a division.

The second statement was given by Rt. Hon. Ian McCartney MP, Minister of State at the Foreign Office about the situation in Zimbabwe. 
In the brief discussion that followed he was congratulated by an opposition MP for making "the most outspoken criticism of the Mugabe regime that I have ever heard from a Minister in the House." 
South Africa was also criticised for not doing more to help the situation but the press rhumour of the involvement of Angolan troops, the Minister said, could not be confirmed through international sources.

The Health Select Committee published its long awaited Report on NHS Workforce Planning last week. 
This concluded that workforce planning in the NHS was a disastrous failure leading to an explosion of extra posts in the last few years when extra money was available in the NHS and Government targets were driving the need to take on more staff to do the extra work rather than by increasing the efficiency of those already there. 
The report made clear that NHS staff reductions are not only due to compulsory redundancies but also due to the much larger effect from staff vacancy freezes put into effect right across the country to try to reduce the financial deficits faced by most NHS trusts now.

Last Friday Wyre Forest Young Voices & Primary Chords held another of their highly enjoyable concerts this time in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery. 
All the music had connections with oppression including slavery and ranged from traditional spirituals to Lerner and Loewe and Gershwin melodies. We, the audience, enjoyed singing Amazing Grace twice. The evening showed just what our young people including super soloists drawn from their number can do and how much people appreciate such a varied programme performed by them.

I have finally arrived on the health front at Westminster! 
To my amazement I was asked to deputise for a Health Minister who could not attend a celebration of Quality and Outcomes Framework awards to GPs. 
Readers need not fear that this is a sign that I might be joining the Labour Party! 
I value the independence of my special position far too much for that.

RT

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